LANGLEY, British Columbia – Trinity Western Spartans first-year forward
Haley Waugh (Surrey, B.C.) scored twice and added an assist in her Canada West debut, while third-year goaltender
Olivia Davidson (Edmonton) made 19 saves for her second career shutout as the Spartans opened the 2026-27 Canada West women's hockey season with a 4-0 victory over the Regina Cougars Friday night at The ARENAS at Langley Events Centre in Langley, B.C.
Waugh opened the scoring at 12:52 of the second period before adding a power-play goal at 17:24 to give Trinity Western a 2-0 lead after 40 minutes. Second-year defenceman
Sadie Isfeld (Coquitlam, B.C.) extended the Spartans' advantage at 4:11 of the third period, while third-year defenceman
Chayce Kullman (Bragg Creek, Alta.) completed the scoring just 1:39 later at 5:50. Fifth-year forward
Michela Naccarato (Edmonton) finished with two assists as Trinity Western scored four unanswered goals over a span of 12:58.
Davidson stopped all 19 shots she faced for the Spartans, while Regina goaltender Amy Swayze made 33 saves in the loss.
UP NEXT
The Spartans will wrap up their weekend series against the Cougars Saturday afternoon at The Arenas at Langley Events Centre in Langley, B.C. Puck drop is scheduled for 3 p.m. (PT), with the game available live on Canada West TV.
QUOTABLE
Peter Hay, TWU Head Coach
A great way to start this season. Our team played the right way, and that comes from the process of all the practice and preparation throughout the preseason. This last week, we have really come together nicely. Our culture is so strong. Our girls care for each other, and they're happier about their teammates' success than their own. There's something powerful about that, and it will take us a long way. Great to see Davy get a shutout in her first game and Hailey get two goals in her first year in U Sport. We just need to rinse and repeat tomorrow and play another 60 minutes with hard work and compete."
AS IT HAPPENED
Trinity Western controlled much of the opening period, outshooting Regina 12-6, but neither team was able to break through. The Spartans had two early power-play opportunities following penalties to Regina's Quinn McLaren at 6:23 and Cassidy Peters at 8:39, but Swayze turned aside all 12 shots she faced to keep the game scoreless. Davidson made six saves at the other end as the teams entered the first intermission tied 0-0.
The Spartans continued to pressure the Cougars in the second period, generating 17 shots on goal before finally breaking through at 12:52. Waugh scored her first career Canada West goal off an assist from second-year forward
Keelyn Pisani (Sturgeon County, Alta.), giving Trinity Western a 1-0 lead.
Waugh doubled the Spartans' advantage at 17:24, capitalizing on a power play following a delay-of-game penalty to Regina's Bailey McMaster. Naccarato and fifth-year defenceman
Ella Boon (Vanderhoof, B.C.) drew assists on Waugh's second goal of the night, sending Trinity Western into the second intermission with a 2-0 lead. The Spartans held a commanding 29-13 advantage in shots through 40 minutes.
Trinity Western extended its lead early in the third period when Isfeld scored at 4:11, with Waugh and Naccarato collecting assists. The goal gave Waugh her third point of the night in her first Canada West conference game and put the Spartans ahead 3-0.
Just 1:39 later, Kullman scored at 5:50 off an assist from fourth-year forward
Brook Dorash (Ardrossan, Alta.), increasing Trinity Western's lead to 4-0.
Regina had three power-play opportunities in the final period, including a two-player advantage following penalties to fifth-year blueliner
Presleigh Giesbrecht (Gretna, Man.) at 13:23 and a bench minor for too many players at 13:40, but Davidson and the Spartans' penalty kill kept the Cougars off the scoresheet.
The Spartans limited Regina to six shots in the final frame, with Davidson turning aside each attempt to secure her second career shutout and Trinity Western's season-opening victory.
NOTABLE
- The Spartans outshot the Cougars 37-19, including a 17-7 advantage in the second period. Trinity Western went 1-for-5 on the power play, while Regina finished 0-for-4.
- Waugh recorded three points with two goals and an assist in her first career Canada West conference game. She scored the game-winning goal at 12:52 of the second period and added a power-play goal at 17:24.
- Davidson recorded her second career shutout, finishing with 19 saves. She earned her first career shutout in a 4-0 road win over Alberta on Nov. 1, 2025.
- Naccarato finished with two assists, setting up Waugh's second-period power-play goal and Isfeld's third-period marker.
- Isfeld, a member of the 2025-26 Canada West All-Rookie Team, scored her first goal of the season. She finished with a game-high seven shots on goal.
- Kullman also scored her first goal of the season, giving the Spartans their fourth goal of the night just 1:39 after Isfeld's marker.
- Regina goaltender Amy Swayze, a member of the 2025-26 Canada West All-Rookie Team, made 33 saves, including 15 in the second period.
- Trinity Western was ranked No. 7 in the Canada West preseason coaches poll released Oct. 7, receiving 33 points, while Regina was ranked No. 8 with 28 points.
- The Spartans reached the Canada West semifinals last season after sweeping Calgary in the quarterfinals with 5-1 and 4-2 victories before falling to eventual conference champion UBC.
- Trinity Western finished its 2026-27 exhibition schedule 0-2, dropping a 2-1 road decision to UBC on Sept. 26 and a 5-2 home contest against the Thunderbirds on Oct. 3.
- Regina entered Friday's conference opener riding a four-game exhibition winning streak. The Cougars closed their preseason with back-to-back home victories over Minot State, winning 3-1 on Oct. 2 and 5-1 on Oct. 3.
- Friday's contest marked Trinity Western's first Canada West conference game at The ARENAS at Langley Events Centre. The game drew 205 spectators.
About Spartan Athletics
As official members of U SPORTS, the Spartans currently compete in 13 sports in the Canada West conference, including women's and men's soccer, volleyball, basketball, hockey, cross country and track & field, as well as women's rugby sevens. TWU also competes as an independent team in men's rugby and women's and men's disc golf. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 15 U SPORTS team championships and 35 Canada West team championships.
About Trinity Western University
Recognized for quality, TWU has received seven consecutive A+ rankings for Quality of Teaching and Learning, holds three Canada Research Chairs, and wins national championships in CIS sports. More importantly, lives are changed at TWU through its whole-person, Christ-centred approach to education. With a wide array of undergraduate, graduate, and adult degree-completion programs, TWU equips leaders of character and competence to make a positive impact in the lives of others.
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